Chapter 274: Spark of competition

Chapter 274: Spark of competition

The final venue, Stade de France, is located in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris. It is not solely a football stadium but a multi-purpose sports facility suitable for various athletic events.

The stadium can accommodate 80,000 spectators. The 1998 FIFA World Cup final was held here, and the 2003 World Athletics Championships also concluded successfully at this venue.

For spectators, watching a match at this stadium feels somewhat uncomfortable because there are running tracks encircling the pitch and separating it from the stands. However, this does not deter fans from eagerly coming to the venue to cheer for their teams.

Both teams have a large fan base, leading to a frenzied demand for tickets to the final. Many locals in Paris complained online that they couldn't get tickets, hoping to relax by watching the final on the weekend but finding it impossible to obtain tickets.

In the luxury boxes on the top tier, Barcelona president Laporta calmly sips wine, occasionally chatting with his assistants. In stark contrast, Inter Milan president Moratti paces anxiously. The Nerazzurri have reached this stage, and it's now a question of whether they'll succeed in realizing their dream or fall short.

The players from both teams line up on either side of the player tunnel, awaiting entry onto the pitch. Inter Milan lines up in a 4-3-2-1 formation, with Toldo in goal, followed by Mihajlovic, Cordoba, Samuel, and Materazzi in defense. In midfield, there's Simeone, Zanetti, Pirlo, with Ribery and Wang Feng ahead of them. Upfront is Adriano.

Barcelona, on the other hand, adopts a 4-3-3 formation, with Valdés in goal, Oleger, Marquez, Puyol, and Van Bronckhorst in defense. In midfield, there's Deco, Edmilson, and Van Bommel. Leading the attack are Giuly, Eto'o, and Ronaldinho. Updated chapters at novelhall.com

When Ronaldinho sees Wang Feng, his eyes light up, and he greets him with a smile: "Wang, it's been a while since the battles between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, hasn't it?"

"Since losing to you last time, I've been looking forward to our next encounter. God has been kind to me, giving me a strong team. This time, I'll definitely win!" responds the confident newly-crowned World Footballer of the Year.

"Eighty percent of the credit for this goal goes to Ronaldinho. Despite being double-teamed, he still managed to deliver the ball to Eto'o in the middle."

"The remaining twenty percent goes to Eto'o for his return pass and Edmilson for his excellent finish."

"What is Inter Milan's defense doing? Why are Mihajlovic and Cordoba both focusing on Giuly?"

"The passive situation and conceding the goal have pushed the Nerazzurri into a corner."

After taking the lead, Barcelona doesn't change their tactics or style. They continue to control the ball calmly, using passing to penetrate the opponent's defense, appearing very stable as a team.

"Look at this attack! Ronaldinho dribbles forward with the ball; he's truly agile, bypassing Simeone and passing to Eto'o."

"Giuly, Edmilson, and Deco are all pushing forward. Barcelona's attack looks relentless!"

"Eto'o passes back to Ronaldinho, who takes the shot! It's a goal!"

"This time, it's Eto'o who entered the penalty area, drawing the defense and then making a triangle pass to Ronaldinho, who shoots on the run!"

"Barcelona's attacking firepower is just too strong, with their front three shining brightly. Deco and Edmilson occasionally joining the attack, Inter Milan can't withstand it!"

"No wonder they are called the second Dream Team. The Nerazzurri now seem to be drifting further away from the championship."